UNRIC Library Newsletter - April 2013

New Websites within the UN System

UN in General

Building a Better Future for All: Selected Speeches of United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon 2007-2012http://issuu.com/unpublications/docs/9789210559959_issuuThe United Nations works across the world for peace, sustainable development, human rights and the rule of law. This collection of speeches by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon shows the breadth of those efforts – advances and struggles alike – at a time of profound transition for the human family. Since taking office in 2007, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has sought to mobilize the international community behind global solutions to urgent challenges ranging from climate change and poverty to armed conflict and the spread of deadly weapons. The goal: dignity, freedom and opportunity for all.

The Global Conversation Beginshttp://www.worldwewant2015.org/the-global-conversation-beginshttp://www.worldwewant2015.org/file/329346/download/357813The United Nations Development Group (UNDG) launched its new report, ‘The Global Conversation Begins’. The report provides a snap shot of the emerging narrative from over 80 national and 11 thematic consultations on the post-2015 development agenda. Preliminary findings from the global conversation will be presented to the Secretary-General’s High-level Panel on the Post-2015 Development Agenda at their next meeting in Bali, Indonesia from 25-27 March.

Pressing for Freedom: 20 Years of World Press Freedom Day (UNESCO)http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0022/002205/220525E.pdfOn 3 May 2013 UNESCO celebrates the twentieth year of World Press Freedom Day. The Publication provides an overview of the trajectory of the Day beginning with its foundational years, leading to the period of consolidation where international civil society of press freedom had begun to coalesce, and finally it takes a look into the big issues and challenges that are likely to face press freedom in the future.

'UN Peacemaker’ - re-launch of the online mediation support toolhttp://peacemaker.un.orgUN Peacemaker – developed by the UN Department of Political Affairs - offers key tools and resources to support mediators and their teams in managing peace processes and negotiating peace agreements, including:• A comprehensive database of more than 750 peace agreements. • Guidance documents on mediation, such as the ‘UN Guidance for Effective Mediation’. • Information on UN mediation support activities and services. • A library of selected resources on mediation issues. • Upcoming video-interviews with mediation experts. You can also register to receive 'UN Peacemaker' updates and reports with the mediation support activities of the Department of Political Affairs' Mediation Support Unit.

Economic & Social Development

2013 Human Development Report: The Rise of the South: Human Progress in a Diverse World (UNDP)Report & Summary in English, French & Spanish:http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/librarypage/hdr/human-development-report-2013/The 2013 Human Development Report examines the profound shift in global dynamics driven by the fast-rising new powers of the developing world and its long-term implications for human development. The Report identifies more than 40 countries in the developing world that have done better than had been expected in human development terms in recent decades, with their progress accelerating markedly over the past ten years. The Report analyzes the causes and consequences of these countries' achievements and the challenges that they face today and in the coming decades.

The Least Developed Countries Report 2012: Harnessing Remittances and Diaspora Knowledge to Build Productive Capacities (UNCTAD)English, French & Spanish:http://unctad.org/en/pages/PublicationWebflyer.aspx?publicationid=249 (select “Downloads”)The report addresses the issues of remittance flows to LDCs and the potential role of diasporas in LDCs’ development. It argues that with the right policies and international support, LDCs could enhance the benefits from remittances and the knowledge and know-how accumulated in their diasporas. Using evidence and policy lessons from other countries, the report shows how LDCs could better harness remittances and diaspora knowledge to build their productive capacities.

Population Division – redesigned websitehttp://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/The redesigned website of the Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division was launched on 20 March 2013. It includes news, events and exciting features, through which both existing users and new visitors can gain a greater understanding of the Division’s activities and achievements.

Human Rights

Commission on the Status of Women, Fifty-seventh session, 4 – 15 March 2013 “The elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls : draft agreed conclusions” (E/CN.6/2013/L.5)English, French & Spanish:http://undocs.org/E/CN.6/2013/L.5The outcome of the Commission’s consideration of the priority theme takes the form of agreed conclusions, negotiated by all States.

Humanitarian Affairs

Humanitarian Kiosk (OCHA)http://kiosk.humanitarianresponse.info/Get the latest information on humanitarian crises around the world, including maps, infographics and reports, available to download via the new United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Humanitarian Kiosk iOS app.

REFWORLD (UNHCR)http://www.refworld.orgUNHCR launched on 17 April 2013 a new and improved version of Refworld, a widely used online protection and research tool that helps those who have to decide on refugee and statelessness status. Refworld 2013 (contains a vast collection of reports relating to situations in countries of origin, policy papers, case law and other documents relating to international and national legal frameworks. The documents have been carefully selected from - and with - UNHCR field offices, governments, international, regional and non-governmental organizations, academic institutions and judicial bodies.

UNHCR current emergencieshttp://data.unhcr.org/If you are looking for information on current refugee emergencies, go to the comprehensive new UNHCR Refugees Data projects website. This site is a portfolio of projects that provide interactive visualizations and/or direct access to UNHCR Data Sets. The projects presented here include both projects created by UNHCR as well as projects created externally about refugees.

Social Media

The Brussels based United Nations Regional Information Centre for Western Europe - UNRIC provides information on UN activities to the countries of the region. It also provides liaison with institutions of the European Union in the field of information. Its outreach activities extend to all segments of society and joint campaigns, projects and events are organized with partners including the EU, governments, the media, NGOs, schools and local authorities.